Addiction Tendencies & Policy Preference by Quadrant of the U.S. Political Compass
Drug Policies Generally Favored by the Left
• Treating addiction as a public health issue, not solely a criminal failing, and therefore requires medical and therapeutic solutions
• Increased funding for treatment
• Universal access to addiction treatment
• Community-based prevention programs
• Naloxone (Narcan) widely available and affordable
• "Deflection"or diversion programs where police offer treatment options instead of arrest for drug-related crimes
• Decriminalization or legalization; de-stigmatization
• Ending incarceration for drug offenses; diversion into voluntary, publicly funded treatment programs
• Investment in public health infrastructure and social services
• Re-entry programs that help individuals transitioning from incarceration back into the community, focusing on continued treatment, housing, and employment support to prevent relapse and recidivism
Drug Policies Generally Favored by the Right
• Aggressive enforcement against drug manufacturers, traffickers, and dealers
• Skepticism of harm reduction (especially if publicly funded) as a waste of taxpayer money that doesn't fix the underlying problem
• Voluntary, market-based treatment options or community-based solutions (AA & NA) over large government programs
Favored Policies for Drug Addiction by Quadrant
In addition to the general policies listed above, the quadrants below describe specific policies that capture the flavor of the tendencies of the Pew political types. A Pew Research Center survey of the U.S. general public, in 2021, showed clusters of political beliefs and values. The origin of these Pew labels and type descriptors are detailed in an earlier post.
Drugs of Addiction
I’m not saying that everyone is addicted, but rather that if addiction is present, it's likely linked to substances prevalent within that individual's social group or locale.
We shouldn’t leave out the stressed sideliners in this case: cannabis, opiates, heroine, and PCP.
Alcohol
We shouldn’t leave out the stressed sideliners in this case: whatever is available, Four Loko, and XXX.
Thanks for reading. Here’s the podcast that inspired this post. What do the recovered junkies say about what policies work?
Repeat of Quadrants Content for Drug Policy
This section repeats the writing in the quadrants, for any who have difficulty reading in that format. Groups are presented in order of political party size.
Auth-left Quadrant
Pew type: Democratic mainstays (moderate Democrats)
"Deflection" programs where police offer treatment options instead of arrest
Pew type: Establishment liberals
Tax breaks and grants for non-profits that treating addiction as a public health issue
Auth-right Quadrant
Pew type: Committed conservatives (corporate globalist hawks)
Firm penalties, potentially including mandatory minimum sentences, for drug dealers and traffickers
Pew type: Faith and flag conservatives
Community (AA & NA) and faith-based solutions over government programs
Lib-right Quadrant
Pew type: Populist right
Border control to stop the flow of illicit drugs (build the wall)
Pew type: Ambivalent right (dissident right)
Full decriminalization or legalization (six-in-ten ambivalent right say that marijuana should be legal for both recreational and medical use by adults, a view not held by most other GOP-oriented groups)
Lib-left (Green) Quadrant
Pew type: Progressive left
Harm reduction: supervised consumption sites (scs), syringe service programs (ssps) needle exchange to reduce the spread of diseases, drug checking services to prevent accidental overdoses due to contaminants
Pew type: Outsider left
Community-led restorative justice for drug-related crime
Repeat of Quadrants Content for Drug Use
This section repeats the writing in the quadrants, for any who have difficulty reading in that format. Groups are presented in order of political party size.
Auth-left Quadrant
Pew type: Democratic mainstays (moderate Democrats)
crack, cannabis
Pew type: Establishment liberals
cocaine
Auth-right Quadrant
Pew type: Committed conservatives (corporate globalist hawks)
cocaine
Pew type: Faith and flag conservatives
prescription opiates, Adderall
Lib-right Quadrant
Pew type: Populist right
local-cooked meth (one component sourced from agriculture stores)
Pew type: Ambivalent right (dissident right)
ketamine, DMT, MDMA
Lib-left (Green) Quadrant
Pew type: Progressive left
ethically sourced 'woke coke'
Pew type: Outsider left
psilocybin, ayahuasca, cannabis (natural!)
Repeat of Quadrants Content for Alcohol Use
This section repeats the writing in the quadrants, for any who have difficulty reading in that format. Groups are presented in order of political party size.
Auth-left Quadrant
Pew type: Democratic mainstays (moderate Democrats)
schnapps, cognac
Pew type: Establishment liberals
clear liquor cocktails, white wine
(for the younger frat party set: sweet and flavoured spirits, jungle juice, Jägermeister)
Auth-right Quadrant
Pew type: Committed conservatives (corporate globalist hawks)
amber-colored liquor such as scotch or brandy (says consumer data supplied by GFK MRI), or red wines
Pew type: Faith and flag conservatives
non- or low-alcohol content, beer
Lib-right Quadrant
Pew type: Populist right
straight hard liquor (especially whisky), Busch or other American major-brand beer, except no to Budweiser since that commercial ad
Pew type: Ambivalent right (dissident right)
hard seltzer, vodka, tequila
Lib-left (Green) Quadrant
Pew type: Progressive left
craft beer, Pabst Blue Ribbon, white wine
Pew type: Outsider left
hard kombucha, hard cider (especially homemade)
References
Because I don’t go to all the parties everywhere, I had to do some research.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/wp/2013/12/31/what-your-favorite-drink-says-about-your-politics-in-one-chart/
cognac has become a trendy, aspirational beverage among African Americans https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/food-and-wine/wine/tell-me-what-you-drink-and-ill-tell-you-how-youll-vote/article16323504/
scotch https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/food-and-wine/wine/tell-me-what-you-drink-and-ill-tell-you-how-youll-vote/article16323504/
natty light
https://www.vice.com/en/article/panvqz/research-says-if-youre-a-republican-you-probably-like-keystone-light-and-michelob-ultra
wine + what republicans drink for celebration
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/arunmikkilineni/9-political-views-we-can-deduce-from-your-drinking-habits